Ralph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe facts for kids
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Ralph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe
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Lord Clitheroe in 1956
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| Member of Parliament for Blackburn West |
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| In office 23 February 1950 – 6 May 1955 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Member of Parliament for City of London |
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| In office 31 October 1945 – 3 February 1950 |
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| Preceded by | |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe |
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| In office 26 July 1934 – 15 June 1945 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Betterton |
| Succeeded by | Florence Paton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 February 1901 |
| Died | 18 September 1984 (aged 83) |
| Spouses |
Sylvia Benita Frances Hotham
(m. 1923) |
| Children | 4 |
Ralph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe (born 24 February 1901 – died 18 September 1984) was an English aristocrat and a well-known politician. He held important roles in the British government and Parliament for many years.
Contents
Ralph Assheton's Life and Career
Ralph Assheton was born on 24 February 1901. His father was Sir Ralph Assheton, 1st Baronet. His mother was Mildred Estelle Sybella Master.
He went to two famous schools: Summer Fields School and Eton College.
Serving in Parliament
Ralph Assheton was a Member of Parliament (MP) for several areas. An MP is a person chosen by voters to represent them in the House of Commons.
He represented Rushcliffe from 1934 to 1945. After that, he represented the City of London from 1945 to 1950. His last area was Blackburn West, which he represented from 1950 to 1955.
Government Roles During Wartime
During World War II, Ralph Assheton worked in the government led by Winston Churchill.
- In 1942, he was the Minister of Supply. This role meant he was in charge of making sure the country had enough supplies for the war.
- From 1942 to 1944, he was the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. This job involved managing the government's money.
In 1944, he became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the King or Queen. He also served as the Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1944 to 1946. The Chairman is a leader of the Conservative political party.
Life After Parliament
After leaving the House of Commons in 1955, Ralph Assheton was given a special title. On 21 June 1955, he became Baron Clitheroe. This meant he joined the peerage, a group of people with special noble titles.
He also took over his father's title as the 2nd Baronet on 21 September 1955.
He continued to serve his community. On 16 November 1955, he became a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire. Later, he was the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire from 1971 to 1976. A Lord Lieutenant is the King's or Queen's personal representative in a county.
He received several honors for his service:
- In 1972, he became a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (KStJ).
- In 1977, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. This honor is given by the monarch for personal service.
Ralph Assheton's Family
Ralph Assheton married Hon. Sylvia Benita Frances Hotham on 24 January 1924. She was the daughter of Frederick William Hotham, 6th Baron Hotham.
They had four children:
- Anne Assheton (born and died on 22 December 1924)
- Hon. Bridget Assheton (born 20 August 1926, died 22 May 2004). She married Sir Marcus Worsley. He was the brother of Katharine, Duchess of Kent.
- Ralph John Assheton, 2nd Baron Clitheroe (born 3 November 1929)
- Hon. Nicholas Assheton (born 23 May 1934, died 27 November 2012). He was the Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1998 until she passed away in 2002.
Lord Clitheroe passed away in 1984.
